Articulated counterbalanced piping apparatus

ABSTRACT

This application deals with a device for loading fluids such as oil into tank cars. It has an inboard and an outboard conduit pipe which are pivotally connected together. The inboard pipe connects with a supply strand pipe and the free end of the outboard conduit has a nozzle that connects with the tank car to be loaded. The invention is concerned with a balancing means for balancing the inboard and the outboard conduit members and includes a balancing spring in combination with an articulated linkage that splits the balancing force of the balancing spring between the inboard and the outboard conduits to balance both of them so that a user of the device can manipulate the nozzle on the free end of the outboard conduit member as if it is substantially weightless.

l/nited Mates Patent Meyer 14 1 Mar. 20, 1972 [54] ARTICULATEDCOUNTERBALANCEID 3,451,427 6/1969 Dollinger.. ..137/6l5 PIPING APPARATUS3,489,174 1/1970 Cooley ..l37/6l5 Primary Examiner-Samuel B. RothbergAssistant Examiner-William H. Wright Attorney-Arthur E. Dowell, ill

[5 7] ABSTRACT This application deals with a device for loading fluidssuch as oil into tank cars. it has an inboard and an outboard conduitpipe which are pivotally connected together. The inboard pipe connectswith a supply strand pipe and the free end of the outboard conduit has anozzle that connects with the tank car to be loaded. The invention isconcerned with a balancing means for balancing the inboard and theoutboard conduit members and includes a balancing spring in combinationwith an articulated linkage that splits the balancing force of thebalancing spring between the inboard and the outboard conduits tobalance both of them so that a user of the device can manipulate thenozzle on the free end of the outboard conduit member as if it issubstantially weightless.

17 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures P'ATENTfm-mza I972 SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTOR.WILLIAM MEYER ARTICULATED COUNTERBALANCED PIPING APPARATUS Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 866,540filed on Oct. 15, 1969 now abandoned.

This invention relates to a counterbalanced piping apparatus of the typeused to load liquids, such as oil, from a storage tank to a tank of anoil transport vehicle.

Liquid loaders of this general type comprise a base, an inboard conduitpivotally mounted on the base, an outboard conduit pivotally mounted toan end of the inboard conduit and a valve at the free end of theoutboard member.

The conduit members of loaders of this type are relatively heavy,especially when they are filled with oil or the like, and it has beenpractice to counterbalance the weight of the conduit members about thepivotal mounting of the inboard member on the base. With thisarrangement the outboard conduit is free to swing under its own weightand without balancing about its pivotal mounting with the inboardconduit, with the result that the handling of the valve at the free endof the outboard member is a relatively heavy task. Convenient balancingarrangements for the outboard conduit of small loaders have not beenprovided in the past.

This invention provides a convenient balancing arrangement for balancingthe conduit members about the pivotal connection of the inboard memberwith the base, and also balancing the outboard conduit about its pivotalconnection with the inboard conduit. The result is that the valve at thefree end of the outboard conduit is relatively weightless and can bemanipulated to and fro with respect to the base with 3 relative ease bya workman.

Generally speaking, counterbalanced piping apparatus according to thisinvention comprises a base, an inboard conduit swingably connected tosaid base, an outboard conduit swingably connected to said inboardconduit, an articulated linkage connecting said inboard conduit and saidoutboard conduit to said base, said articulated linkage including acounterbalancing spring loaded by the position of said inboard conduitwith respect to said base and by the position of said outboard conduitwith respect to inboard conduit, said articulated linkage being stressedby said counterbalancing spring to counterbalance said outboard conduitabout said inboard conduit and to counter balance said inboard conduitand the parts of said apparatus carried thereby about said base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, whereinthe reference numerals designate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a presently preferred embodiment of thepresent invention shown in an operating or extended position; and

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown in thestored position; and

FIG. 3 is a partial view of another embodiment of the invention drawn onan enlarged scale to show details of adjustment means; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment of theinvention.

A preferred embodiment of an articulated counterbalanced pipingapparatus 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Thepiping apparatus 10 includes a stand pipe 12 of a loading conduit systemwhich leads from a source of liquid or other fluid to be discharged, asfor example from a storage tank for gasoline, oil or other fluid (notshown). The liquid or fluid may be delivered to and through the standpipe 12 by gravity or by pump pressure according to the type of tank andits location relative to the stand pipe 12, and suitable shut-off valvemeans (not shown) may be provided for controlling delivery of liquid orfluid to and through the loading conduit system.

Connected to and in communication with the stand pipe 12 is a swingjoint 14, the stationary receiving end portion 16 of which is preferablyconnected to the stand pipe 12 by a swivel joint 18. To the movabledischarge end portion 20 of the swing joint 14, is connected an inboardelongated conduit member 22.

Connected to and in communication with the inboard member 22 is a swingjoint 24. The swing joint 24 is connected to the inboard member at itsstationary receiving end portion 26. The movable discharge end portion28 of the swing joint 24 is connected to an outboard elongated conduitmember 30.

Connected to and in communication with the outboard member 30 is aflexible coupling 32. The flexible coupling 32 is connected to theoutboard member at its movable receiving end portion 34 and the movabledischarge end portion 36 of the flexible coupling 32 is connected to theinlet of the faucet or control valve 38. The control valve 38 controlsthe flow of liquid or other fluid through the piping apparatus 10.

The device thus has an inboard conduit member 22 free to pivot in avertical plane about joint 14 and an outboard conduit member 30 free topivot in a vertical plane about its pivotal connection with the inboardconduit member. The objective of this invention is to provide a simpledevice for counterbalancing the combined weight of both conduits andtheir appurtenances about the pivot point 14 and at the same time forcounterbalancing the outboard conduit 30 about its point of pivotalconnection with the inboard conduit. It has been 4 found that thecounterbalancing force of a single spring can be divided to perform bothfunctions through the expedient of an articulated linkage.

A support bracket 40 is fixedly connected to the stationary receivingend portion 16 of the swing joint 14 by means such as welded joint or anut and bolt arrangement. A spring biasing means 42 is supported by thesupport bracket 40. A preferred biasing means 42 is as disclosed andclaimed in US. Pat. No. 2,739,778 to H. C. Krone et al.

A link bar 44 is pivotally connected to and biased by the biasing means42. The length of the link bar 44 may be adjusted by an adjustment means64. The adjustment means 64 may comprise a series of holes in onesection of the link bar 44a adapted to register with holes in the othersection of the link bar 44b with holding bolts or pins inserted in theholes, or any other suitable means such as a screw-adjustment means.

A first lug 46 is fixedly attached to the receiving end of the inboardmember 22. The base of the lug 46 may have holes adapted to registerwith several of the holes of the flanges of the inboard member 22 andthe discharge end portion 20 of the swing joint 14. The lug 46 may befixedly attached to the inboard member 22 by inserting flange boltsthrough the holes in the base of lug 46 and through the holes in theflanges of the inboard member 22 and the discharge end portion 20 andsuitably attaching nuts to the thus inserted bolts.

A spacing bracket 48 is pivotally connected to the lug 46 by means suchas a pivoting pin at the point F. The spacing bracket 48 has a movablepivoting housing 50 adapted to move along the length of bracket 48 on athreaded member 52. The threaded member 52 is rotationally supported inthe bracket 48 by bearings (not shown). The threaded member 52 isrotated, thereby moving the pivoting housing 50, by turning the knob 54,which is integral with said member 52 with a wrench or other similartool.

The link bar 44 is pivotally connected to the spacing bracket 48 at themovable pivoting housing 50 by means such as a pivoting pin.

The spacing bracket 48 also has a pivoting housing 56 to which anelongated arm 58 is pivotally connected by means such as a pivoting pinat point E.

As will be apparent later the point of pivotal connection of spacingbracket 48 with link bar 44 is a factor in the determination of thedivision of the total counterbalancing effect of the spring 42 aboutswing joint 14 and about the pivotal interconnection of the two conduitmembers.

A lug is fixedly connected to the movable discharge end portion 28 orthe swing joint 24, the base of the lug 60 having holes adapted toregister with threaded holes in the end portion 28. The other end of thelug 60 is pivotally connected to the elongated arm 58 at the point D.

The link bar 44 is biased by the biasing means 42 so that it applies acounterbalancing force through the movable pivoting housing 50 to thethreaded member 52 and its bearing to the spacing bracket 48 and thenceto the inboard member 22 through the first lug 46. The biasing forcetends to return or swing the inboard member 22 to an equilibriumposition counterbalancing a substantial amount of the downward forceexerted by the weight of the piping apparatus and any liquid containedtherein about the pivotal connection of the inboard conduit member withthe base or standpipe 12.

The link bar 44 is biased by the biasing means 42 so that it alsoapplies a counterbalancing force to the outboard elongated conduitmember 30.

The counterbalancing force is applied to the spacing bracket 48, asreferred to above, and then to the stationary pivoting housing 56, tothe pivotally attached elongated arm 58 to the second lug 60, to the endportion 28 and thence to the outboard member 30. This biasing forcetends to swing the outboard member 30 outward and upward toward itsextended or operating position and counterbalances substantially all ofthe remaining downward force exerted by the weight of the pipingapparatus and any liquid contained therein about the pivotal connectionbetween the inboard and the outboard conduit members.

By properly selecting (a) the relative pivoting positions of the linkbar 44 to divide the total force between the two counterbalancingfunctions and the elongated arm 58 on the spacing bracket 48 to applythe correct total counterbalancing force; and/or (b) the pivotingposition of the elongated arm 58 on the second lug 60; and/or (c) thelength of the link bar 44; and/or (d) the biasing force exerted by thebiasing means 42, a resultant counterbalancing force can be therebyobtained to counterbalance the weight of the inboard and outboardmembers 22 and 30 as the nozzle is moved to and fro with respect to thebase structure of the standpipe 12. By so balancing the weight of themembers 22 and 30 the attached control valve 38 will be in a state ofbalance throughout its range of operation. From the operator's viewpointthe valve 38 will seem to "hang" in the air and it will enable him tomanipulate it from the stored position to an infinite variety ofoperating positions and back again with very little effort.

All that is required of the operator to manipulate the piping apparatusand thereby position the valve 38 is that he manually apply a smalloffsetting force to the valve 38.

The weight of valve 38 may additionally be counterbalanced about joint32 by means such as weights 62 fixedly attached thereto. The weights 62are disposed with respect to the flexible coupling so that theycounterbalance the weight of the heavy end of the valve 38. This willfurther aid the operator in positioning the valve 38 particularly whenhe is confronted with a bottom" load configuration. In such aconfiguration the receiving coupling (not shown) on the tank truck,railroad tank car or the like is positioned on the bottom of the tank tobe filled. The operator must manipulate the piping apparatus 10 to thetank and then position the discharge end of the valve 38 upward to matewith the receiving coupling. There is typically very little space forthe operator to maneuver on bottom load configurations and the presentinvention enables the operator to effortlessly manipulate the pipingsystem 10 in such confined quarters and further aids him in effectingthe coupling of the discharge end of the valve 38 with the receivingcoupling.

It will be observed that the axis A-A of the outboard conduit member 30intersects the axis 8-8 of the inboard conduit member at a point C,which is the center of the swing joint 24. The pivot point of elongatedarm 58 with lug 60 of portion 28 of swing joint 24 is labeled point D.The pivot point of arm 58 with pivoting housing 56 on spacing bracket 48is point E.

The pivot point of spacing arm 48 with lug 46 fixedly connected to theinboard conduit is point F. It will be seen, therefore, that inboardconduit 22, swing joint 24, lug 60, arm 58, housing 56, bracket 48 andlug 46 form a parallelogram having comers at pivot points C, D, E and F.

As the nozzle on the end of outboard arm 30 is extended to the right asviewed in FIG. 1, the weight to be counterbalanced by the torsion springunit increases. There is a limit to the amount of counterbalancing forcethat can be supplied by a given torsion spring and care must be takennot to exceed this limit to avoid collapse of the unit. This can be doneby an appropriate selection of the angle 0.

A limiting position for the line G-G is one in which it substantiallyaligns with the line D-E. If the angle 0 were, say, equal to 0, onewould move the nozzle 32 farther to the right to achieve the limitingposition than one would if the angle 0 were, say, 30 for a given heightof the nozzle above the ground. Thus, the distance that the nozzle 32can be extended to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 can be controlled bythe size of the angle 0. As indicated above, it must not be permitted tomove to a point beyond which the torsion unit can counterbalance itsload. Angles of 0 between 30 and 60 have been found practical forlimiting outward extent of the nozzle.

Essentially 0 must have a value and the outboard arm extension 60 musthave a length and angular disposition such that the component of thetotal counterbalance force of the spring 42 that acts along the axis ofoutboard arm 58 will counterbalance arm 30 about its pivotal connectionwith ann 22 as arm 30 is moved between its various operative positions.

Other stop means between the moving parts for preventing the outwardextension of the nozzle 32 to a point beyond which the torsion unit canbalance the weights are possible.

While the inboard conduit member 22, lug 60, outboard arm link 58, arm48 and inboard conduit member 22 have been indicated as being pivotallyconnected to form an articulated parallelogram, the parallelogramarrangement is not essential. The essential thing is that there be anarticulated link means that includes a counterbalance spring thatinterconnects the base, outboard conduit and the inboard conduit andthat is responsive to pivotal movement of the two conduit members toload the spring and counterbalance the conduit members about theirrespective pivot points.

In FIG. 4 there is indicated an equivalent schematic illustration for aloader similar to the one shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, but in which theforce splitting arm 48 is lengthened so that the parallelogramconfiguration does not exist. The operation of the loader is essentiallythe same. In this drawing the outboard conduit member and the valve onthe free end thereof is represented by the numeral 130. Its weightacting through its center of gravity is indicated by the letter W,. Theinboard conduit is indicated by the numeral 122 and its weight actingthrough its center of gravity is indicated by the letter W the outboardlink arm is indicated by the numeral 158 and its weight acting throughits center of gravity is indicated by the letter W Force splitting armand spring connecting arm are indicated by numerals 148 and 164respectively. The coil spring 142 is loaded and arm 144 adjusted inlength to exert a force f in the direction indicated on the free end oflink member 164. A component P of the force f acts along the axis of thearm 158 as indicated.

When the system is in equilibrium and the weight of the conduit membersis counterbalanced about their pivot points as explained above, it willbe apparent that P X e= L, W, where the distances d and L L L and L, areas indicated on FIG. 4.

Essentially the linkage connects each of the conduit arms to the basethrough the spring and splits the balancing force of the spring tocounterbalance both the inboard and the outboard conduit members.

With this invention it is possible to load the spring so that thismechanical balance is achieved as the free end of the outboard member130 is moved in a horizontal direction to and from the base 118, andwhile the free end of the outboard conduit is maintained atsubstantially a constant height from the ground whereby a workman cantake the valve at the free end of the outboard member in a relativelyweightless condition.

There is a certain amount of friction in the swing joints which inpractice is not a disadvantage. As a workman moves the nozzle 38 to andfro with respect to the base 18 of the unit, the inboard and outboardconduit members pivot about their pivotal connections. The system willbalance such that, at the height the workman carries the nozzle, theweight of the nozzle and the weight of the conduit members iscounterbalanced by the force of the spring 42 through the linkages. Theheight from the ground at which perfect balance is achieved does varyslightly as the nozzle is moved to and fro with respect to the base, butnot an amount to affect the utility. Balance is achieved within apractical height for a workman to engage the nozzle.

The effect of friction in the counterbalancing operation is that thenozzle will remain static within a range of heights above and below thepoint where perfect balance would be achieved without friction. Thus, ifthe nozzle is moved up or down from the point of perfect counterbalance,it would tend to return to this point of perfect counterbalancedisregarding friction. However, the effects of friction tend to preventit from returning at locations within a matter of a foot up or down fromthe height of perfect balance. Thus, there is apparent perfect balanceat a range of heights within which the nozzle will remain static andwithin which it is very easy to manipulate the nozzle.

The position of the spring in the articulated link means is notcritical. It is only necessary that the spring be responsive to thepivotal movement of the inboard and outboard conduits to load the springto counterbalance both members about their respective pivot points.

In FIG. the force diagram for an alternative arrangement wherein thespring 242 is included in the arm 58 of FIGS. 1 to 3. A springincorporated in this way and connected as indicated in that drawingworks very well. In this case the outboard conduit member 230 pivotallyconnects with the inboard member 222 as before and it has a stub shaftas indicated that connects pivotally with an end of the spring 242.Tensioned spring 242 connects at its other end with a link member 248,which in turn pivotally connects with the inboard conduit member 222. Alink 264 pivotally connects with link 266 which in turn pivotallyconnects with rigid base 218. Thus there is provided an articulated linkmeans that includes a counterbalancing spring and that connects thebase, the inboard conduit and the outboard conduit. The spring isresponsive to pivotal movement of the inboard and the outboard memberswhich load the spring and provide the counterbalancing forces. Acounterbalancing force f acts along arm 264 as indicated and acounterbalancing force P along axis of the spring arm 242. In this casethe weight of the outboard and the inboard members and of the springlink member 242 have been indicated as W,, W and W respectively, and forthe balance condition the same provisions hold as in the case of FIG. 4,that is:

Thus, it is apparent that the location of the balancing spring is notcritical. Moreover, the type of balancing spring is not critical. It isalso true that the location of the force splitting link 48 is notcritical.

In FIG. 6 there is indicated an equivalent schematic illustration for aloader similar to the one of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 but in which a forcesplitting arm 348 pivots about the inboard conduit member. The pivotpoint can be adjusted along the length of the force splitting member tovary the length thereof that is disposed on either side of the pivotpoint, to change the position of the articulated linkage relative to theconduit members and vary the application of the force of thecounterbalancing spring as between the two pivot points. In this drawingthe outboard conduit member is indicated by the numeral 330 and theinboard conduit member is indicated by the numeral 322. The forcesplitting arm 348 pivots about a pivot point on the inboard conduitmember 322. One free end of the force splitting member 348 pivotablyconnects with a link 364. The other end of the link 364 pivotablyconnects with one free end of a coil spring 342. The other end of thecoil spring 342 connects with the base member 318.

The figure illustrates an articulated linkage including acounterbalancing spring that splits the counterbalancing force of thespring between the inboard and outboard conduit members. The spring isresponsive to pivotal movement of the inboard and outboard members toload the spring and provide counterbalancing forces. A reaction force facts along am 364 and a reaction force P acts along the axis of the link358. The weights of the components are indicated as before and under thebalanced condition of adjustment:

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A counterbalanced piping apparatus comprising a base, an inboardconduit swingably connected to said base, an outboard conduit swingablyconnected to said inboard conduit, an articulated linkage connectingsaid inboard conduit and said outboard conduit to said base, saidarticulated linkage including a counterbalancing spring loaded by theposition of said inboard conduit with respect to said base and by theposition of said outboard conduit with respect to inboard conduit, saidarticulated linkage being stressed by said counterbalancing spring tocounterbalance said outboard conduit about said inboard conduit and tocounterbalance said inboard conduit and the parts of said apparatuscarried thereby about said base.

2. A counterbalanced piping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in whichsaid counterbalancing spring includes a first link stressed by saidcounterbalancing spring and spaced from the pivotal connection of thesaid inboard conduit and said outboard conduit to counterbalance saidoutboard conduit about said inboard conduit as aforesaid and whichincludes a second link stressed by said counterbalancing spring andspaced from the pivotal connection of said first conduit and said baseto counterbalance said first conduit and the parts of said apparatuscarried thereby about said base as aforesaid.

3. A counterbalanced piping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 having meansfor changing the position of said articulated linkage with respect tosaid inboard conduit and said outboard conduit for a given relativedisposition of said inboard conduit and said outboard conduit.

4. A counterbalanced piping apparatus as claimed in claim 2 having meansfor changing the position of said articulated linkage with respect tosaid inboard conduit and said outboard conduit for a given relativedisposition of said inboard conduit and said outboard conduit.

5. A counterbalanced piping apparatus as claimed in claim 2 having meansfor changing the position of said first link and of second link withrespect to said inboard conduit and said outboard conduit for a givenrelative disposition of said inboard conduit and said outboard conduit.

6. A counterbalanced piping apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in whichsaid outboard conduit has an extension that extends beyond said pivotalconnection of said inboard and said outboard conduit, said first linkpivotally connecting to said extension of said outboard conduit, a thirdlink pivotally connecting with said first link and with said inboardconduit, said second link connecting with said third link, said thirdlink connecting through said counterbalancing spring with said base.

7. A counterbalanced piping apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which theinterconnection of said second link with said third link is variable inposition along the length of said third link.

8. A counterbalanced piping apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which thelength of said second link is adjustable.

9. in an articulated counterbalanced piping apparatus comprisingarticulated inboard and outboard conduit members and support meanstherefor including means to apply a counterbalancing force to theinboard conduit member, the improvement which comprises: means forapplying a rotational moment to the inlet end of said outboard conduitmember in a direction tending to lift the outlet end of said outboardconduit member, said means for applying the rotational moment comprisinga lug fixedly connected to the inlet end of said outboard conduitmember, and an elongated arm pivotally connected to said lug', saidelongated arm extending along said inboard conduit member and beingconnected to a spacing bracket pivotally connected to said inboardconduit member, said lug, elongated arm, spacing bracket and inboardconduit member forming an articulated parallelogram.

10. In an articulated counterbalanced piping apparatus comprisingarticulated inboard and outboard conduit members and support meanstherefor including means to apply a counterbalancing force to theinboard conduit member, the improvement with comprises: means forapplying a rotational moment to the inlet end of said outboard conduitmember in a direction tending to lift the outlet end of said outboardconduit member, said means for applying counterbalancing force to theinboard conduit member comprising a first lug fixedly connected to theinlet end of said inboard conduit member, a spacing bracket pivotallyconnected to said first lug, a spring biasing means mounted on saidsupport means, and a link bar connecting said spring biasing means withsaid spacing bracket, whereby biasing force from said biasing meanstends to counterbalance said inboard conduit member, and said means forapplying a rotational moment to the inlet end of said outboard conduitmember in a direction tending to lift the outlet end of said outboardconduit member comprising a second lug fixedly connected to the inletend of said outboard conduit, and an elongated arm, one end of saidelongated arm being pivotally connected to said second lug and the otherend being pivotally connected to said spacing bracket, whereby aparallelogram is formed by said inboard conduit, second lug, elongatedarm and spacing bracket; said spring biasing means applying a rotationalmoment to said second lug and outboard conduit member through said linkbar, spacing bracket and elongated arm.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the force applied by saidspring biasing means to the outboard conduit member is sufiicient tomaintain an angle 6 between the axis A-A of said outboard conduit memberand a line GG passing through said axis AA at point C and the pivotpoint D of said second lug and elongated arm, said angle 0 being greaterthan 0 but less than the angle at which an extension of the axis of theelongated arm would pass through point C.

12. An articulated counterbalanced piping apparatus comprising astationary riser, swiveling means connected to said riser and to a firstpivoting means, said first pivoting means connected to an elongatedinboard conduit member, a second pivoting means connected to saidinboard conduit member and to an elongated outboard conduit memberwherein the improvement-comprises a spacing bracket pivotally connectedto said inboard conduit member, said spacing bracket having a stationaryand a movable pivoting housing, an adjustable force biasing means beingfixedly supported by said first pivoting means, a variable length linkbar being pivotally connected to said biasing means and to said spacingbracket at said movable housing, an elongated arm pivotally connected tosaid spacing bracket at said stationary pivoting housing and to the endof the second pivoting means connected to said outboard conduit member,said link bar being biased by said biasing means whereby said barapplies a counterbalancing force to the inboard and outboard conduitmembers substantially countermember, said threaded member beingrotationally mounted by said bracket, said movable pivoting housingbeing adapted to move along the length of said bracket when saidthreaded member is rotated.

14. An articulated counterbalanced piping apparatus according to claim13, wherein the length of the link bar is adjustable.

15. An articulated counterbalanced piping apparatus according to claim14, wherein said spacing bracket is pivotally connected to the end ofsaid inboard conduit member connected to said first pivoting means.

16. An articulated counterbalanced piping apparatus according to claim15, wherein said elongated arm is connected to said second pivotingmeans by means of a bracket fixedly attached to said second pivotingmeans, said bracket including means whereby the position of the joint ofthe pivotal connection between said elongated arm and said bracket canbe varied.

17. An articulated counterbalanced piping apparatus according to claim16, wherein a counterbalanced control valve is flexibly connected to thedischarge end of said outboard conduit member by means of a flexiblecoupling means, said control valve having weights fixedly attachedthereto, said weights being positionally affixed with respect to saidflexible coupling means whereby they counterbalance the weight of theheavy end of said valve.

1. A counterbalanced piping apparatus comprising a base, an inboardconduit swingably connected to said base, an outboard conduit swingablyconnected to said inboard conduit, an articulated linkage connectingsaid inboard conduit and said Outboard conduit to said base, saidarticulated linkage including a counterbalancing spring loaded by theposition of said inboard conduit with respect to said base and by theposition of said outboard conduit with respect to inboard conduit, saidarticulated linkage being stressed by said counterbalancing spring tocounterbalance said outboard conduit about said inboard conduit and tocounterbalance said inboard conduit and the parts of said apparatuscarried thereby about said base.
 2. A counterbalanced piping apparatusas claimed in claim 1 in which said counterbalancing spring includes afirst link stressed by said counterbalancing spring and spaced from thepivotal connection of the said inboard conduit and said outboard conduitto counterbalance said outboard conduit about said inboard conduit asaforesaid and which includes a second link stressed by saidcounterbalancing spring and spaced from the pivotal connection of saidfirst conduit and said base to counterbalance said first conduit and theparts of said apparatus carried thereby about said base as aforesaid. 3.A counterbalanced piping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 having meansfor changing the position of said articulated linkage with respect tosaid inboard conduit and said outboard conduit for a given relativedisposition of said inboard conduit and said outboard conduit.
 4. Acounterbalanced piping apparatus as claimed in claim 2 having means forchanging the position of said articulated linkage with respect to saidinboard conduit and said outboard conduit for a given relativedisposition of said inboard conduit and said outboard conduit.
 5. Acounterbalanced piping apparatus as claimed in claim 2 having means forchanging the position of said first link and of second link with respectto said inboard conduit and said outboard conduit for a given relativedisposition of said inboard conduit and said outboard conduit.
 6. Acounterbalanced piping apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which saidoutboard conduit has an extension that extends beyond said pivotalconnection of said inboard and said outboard conduit, said first linkpivotally connecting to said extension of said outboard conduit, a thirdlink pivotally connecting with said first link and with said inboardconduit, said second link connecting with said third link, said thirdlink connecting through said counterbalancing spring with said base. 7.A counterbalanced piping apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which theinterconnection of said second link with said third link is variable inposition along the length of said third link.
 8. A counterbalancedpiping apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the length of saidsecond link is adjustable.
 9. In an articulated counterbalanced pipingapparatus comprising articulated inboard and outboard conduit membersand support means therefor including means to apply a counterbalancingforce to the inboard conduit member, the improvement which comprises:means for applying a rotational moment to the inlet end of said outboardconduit member in a direction tending to lift the outlet end of saidoutboard conduit member, said means for applying the rotational momentcomprising a lug fixedly connected to the inlet end of said outboardconduit member, and an elongated arm pivotally connected to said lug;said elongated arm extending along said inboard conduit member and beingconnected to a spacing bracket pivotally connected to said inboardconduit member, said lug, elongated arm, spacing bracket and inboardconduit member forming an articulated parallelogram.
 10. In anarticulated counterbalanced piping apparatus comprising articulatedinboard and outboard conduit members and support means thereforincluding means to apply a counterbalancing force to the inboard conduitmember, the improvement with comprises: means for applying a rotationalmoment to the inlet end of said outboard conduit member in a directiontending to lift the outlet end of said outboard conduit member, saidmeans foR applying counterbalancing force to the inboard conduit membercomprising a first lug fixedly connected to the inlet end of saidinboard conduit member, a spacing bracket pivotally connected to saidfirst lug, a spring biasing means mounted on said support means, and alink bar connecting said spring biasing means with said spacing bracket,whereby biasing force from said biasing means tends to counterbalancesaid inboard conduit member, and said means for applying a rotationalmoment to the inlet end of said outboard conduit member in a directiontending to lift the outlet end of said outboard conduit membercomprising a second lug fixedly connected to the inlet end of saidoutboard conduit, and an elongated arm, one end of said elongated armbeing pivotally connected to said second lug and the other end beingpivotally connected to said spacing bracket, whereby a parallelogram isformed by said inboard conduit, second lug, elongated arm and spacingbracket; said spring biasing means applying a rotational moment to saidsecond lug and outboard conduit member through said link bar, spacingbracket and elongated arm.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 whereinthe force applied by said spring biasing means to the outboard conduitmember is sufficient to maintain an angle theta between the axis A-A ofsaid outboard conduit member and a line G-G passing through said axisA-A at point C and the pivot point D of said second lug and elongatedarm, said angle theta being greater than 0* but less than the angle atwhich an extension of the axis of the elongated arm would pass throughpoint C.
 12. An articulated counterbalanced piping apparatus comprisinga stationary riser, swiveling means connected to said riser and to afirst pivoting means, said first pivoting means connected to anelongated inboard conduit member, a second pivoting means connected tosaid inboard conduit member and to an elongated outboard conduit memberwherein the improvement comprises a spacing bracket pivotally connectedto said inboard conduit member, said spacing bracket having a stationaryand a movable pivoting housing, an adjustable force biasing means beingfixedly supported by said first pivoting means, a variable length linkbar being pivotally connected to said biasing means and to said spacingbracket at said movable housing, an elongated arm pivotally connected tosaid spacing bracket at said stationary pivoting housing and to the endof the second pivoting means connected to said outboard conduit member,said link bar being biased by said biasing means whereby said barapplies a counterbalancing force to the inboard and outboard conduitmembers substantially counterbalancing the weight of said members. 13.An articulated counterbalanced piping apparatus according to claim 12,wherein said movable pivoting housing of said spacing bracket isthreadably connected to a threaded member, said threaded member beingrotationally mounted by said bracket, said movable pivoting housingbeing adapted to move along the length of said bracket when saidthreaded member is rotated.
 14. An articulated counterbalanced pipingapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the length of the link bar isadjustable.
 15. An articulated counterbalanced piping apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein said spacing bracket is pivotallyconnected to the end of said inboard conduit member connected to saidfirst pivoting means.
 16. An articulated counterbalanced pipingapparatus according to claim 15, wherein said elongated arm is connectedto said second pivoting means by means of a bracket fixedly attached tosaid second pivoting means, said bracket including means whereby theposition of the joint of the pivotal connection between said elongatedarm and said bracket can be varied.
 17. An articulated counterbalancedpiping apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a counterbalancedcontrol valve is flexibly connected to the discharge end of saidoutboard conduit member by means of a flexible coupling means, saidcontrol valve having weights fixedly attached thereto, said weightsbeing positionally affixed with respect to said flexible coupling meanswhereby they counterbalance the weight of the heavy end of said valve.